Black Lives Matter.

This is not a political statement, but a statement of truth.

Black Pup Lives, Black Trans Lives, POC lives, all of them matter. The reason why we say Black Lives Matter is because they are often treated as they do not, by police, by officials and even by our fellow LGBTQ folk.

Too often, even in our supposedly open and accepting community, do we exclude people based on ideas of preferences. Why is it a wonder that that discrimination permeates to police officers and other parts of society?

It was not until this week that Grindr finally removed the race filter, and I hope more apps follow suit. I’ve been all over the country, browsing hookup apps, and have been subjected to cruel words about the color of my skin. Sometimes, all they see is a black dick, and not the personality behind it. Other people of color often face the same kinds of discrimination, from people they barely even know, just because they look different from the supposed normative of queer culture.

I challenge all of you to look at yourselves and examine your internal biases.

Instead of worrying about damaged property, we should be concerned for the loss of life and police brutality inflicted upon people of color. It took protests like the ones that are going on now, including the First Pride March, which was started by a black trans woman, for society to start recognizing the truth.

We should stand by the values that the Pride flag is supposed to stand for. Racism, institutional or otherwise, has no place in HLP.

When Black lives finally matter, all lives matter.

We will stand with all of our Pups of Color: this is a space where they belong.

No if ands or buts. If any feel excluded, feel free to PM me and I will make sure to address the issue personally.

Again: this is a space for you, Pups and Handlers of Color. You are loved, you are valued, you are cherished.

Pup Bard
Person of Color
Board Representative